The ACT Test: North Carolina

Getting Started: Test Administration Process Steps

Select your current phase of the test administration process to see resources related to that phase.

Step 1: Overview - Review NC testing program resources and complete initial tasks.

Step 2: Prepare for Testing- Set up systems: verify enrollment data and determine online site readiness.

Step 3: Accommodations and/or EL Supports - Request accommodations and/or English Learner supports. 

Step 4: Before Test Day Tasks - Prepare test materials, students, staff, and facilities. 

Step 5: On Test Day - Administer the test.

Step 6: Return Materials: After testing: return test materials to ACT and purge online testing content.

Step 7: Reporting - Access score reports: share scores with examinees and interpret data.

Step 8: Webinars and Administration Manuals - Review NC training webinars and administration manuals.

Important Dates

The Schedule of Events contains all dates and deadlines for North Carolina's test event. Check it frequently to stay on track for testing.

Test Dates

The ACT: Paper Testing

  • Test Date 1— standard time: February 27, 2024
  • Test Date 1—accommodations and/or supports window: February 27 – March 1, 2024 and March 4 – 8, 2024 
  • Test Date 2—standard time: March 12, 2024
  • Test Date 2—accommodations and/or supports window: March 12 – 15, 2024 and March 18 – 22, 2024
  • Test Date 3—standard time test date: April 9, 2024
  • Test Date 3—accommodations and/or supports window: April 9 – 12, 2024 and April 15 – 19, 2024

The ACT: Online Testing

  • Test Date 1—standard time and accommodations and/or supports test date: February 27 – March 1, 2024 and March 4 – 8, 2024
  • Test Date 2—standard time and accommodations and/or supports test date: March 12 – 15, 2024 and March 18 – 22, 2024
  • Test Date 3—standard time and accommodations and/or supports test date: April 9 – 12, 2024 and April 15 – 19, 2024

 

 

Documents will be replaced as they become available for Spring 2024 testing

Help and Contact

Expand each tray for more information

Learn about Test Formats and Policies

Resources:

Select Test Dates and Verify Shipping Address 

Dates:

calendar November 6 – December 8, 2024

Websites:

Resources:

Training:

Select Test Staff and Set Up Accounts

Websites:

Resources:

Training:

Tip: When the district test coordinator changes the school test coordinator in PearsonAccessnext, remember to deactivate the existing test coordinator's user account. Updates need to be completed in two places: the manage contacts screen and creating a new user account.

Verify Enrollment Counts

Dates:

calendar November 6, 2023 –January 12, 2024

Websites:

Resources:

Tip: To verify accommodations/supports counts, run an Accommodations and Supports Roster in PearsonAccessnext.

Training:

 Online Testing: Complete Site Readiness

Learn about Accessibility Supports

Request Accommodations and/or English Learner (EL) Supports

Request Qualified Exceptions to the Deadline

Dates:

calendar January 8 – February 23, 2024

Websites:

Resources:

Tip: Reconsideration is used if you submitted a request for accommodations that was denied. Qualified Exceptions to the Deadline is for limited reasons as indicated on the form.

Tip: Qualified Exceptions to the Deadline. In a limited number of circumstances, test coordinators can submit requests for accommodations and/or English learner (EL) supports after the published request deadline.

Order Test Materials

Dates:

calendarTesting Date 1— January 22 – February 16, 2024

calendarTesting Date 2— February 27 – March 1,2024

calendarTesting Date 3— March 12 – 29, 2024

Websites:

Resources:

Training:

Tip: If additional materials are needed for examinees authorized by ACT to test with accommodations/supports, orders must be placed by calling the ACT Accommodations team (800.525.3731, press 2).

Tip: You can track test materials shipments using Orders & Shipment Tracking. See the View Status and Shipment Information section in the PearsonAccessnext User Guide.

Complete Non-Test Activities

Dates:

calendar Students have an additional two days after they finish testing to complete their non-test information in MyACT.

Websites:

Resources:

Tip: To provide visibility into the non-test information process, schools will have access to a daily Student Code Usage Status report after receiving their first shipment of materials. This report is posted in the Published Reports section in PearsonAccessnext. Refer to the Accessing Reports section of PearsonAccessnext User Guide for instructions. This report contains “Yes” or “No” to indicate students who have not used their Student Code or not completed college choices.

Provide Examinees Test Prep Information

Prepare Your Facility, Staff, and Test Materials

Resources:

Training:

Update Examinee Information

Dates:

calendarTesting Date 1: January 15 – March 7, 2024

calendarTesting Date 2: January 15 – March 21, 2024

calendarTesting Date 3: January 18 – April 25, 2024

Websites:

Resources:

Online Testing: Create Test Sessions

Dates:

calendarTesting Date 1: January 22 – March 8, 2024

calendarTesting Date 2: March 6 – 22, 2024

calendarTesting Date 3: March 25 – April 19, 2024

Online Testing: Complete Site Readiness

 Dates:

calendar December 4, 2023 – January 17, 2024

Websites:

Resources:

Training:

Administer the Test

Dates - Paper Testing

calendarTest Date 1— standard time: February 27, 2024

calendarTest Date 1—accommodations and/or supports window: February 27 – March 1, 2024 and March 4 – 8, 2024

calendarTest Date 2—standard time: March 12, 2024

calendarTest Date 2—accommodations and/or supports window: March 12 – 15, 2024 and March 18 – 22, 2024

calendarTest Date 3—standard time test date: April 9, 2024

calendarTest Date 3—accommodations and/or supports window: April 9 – 12, 2024 and April 15 – 19, 2024

Dates - Online Testing

calendarTest Date 1—standard time and accommodations and/or supports test date: February 27 – March 1, 2024 and March 4 – 8, 2024

calendarTest Date 2—standard time and accommodations and/or supports test date: March 12 – 15, 2024 and March 18 – 22, 2024

calendarTest Date 3—standard time and accommodations and/or supports test date: April 9 – 12, 2024 and April 15 – 19, 2024

Resources:

Forms – Paper Testing 

Forms – Online Testing

Administration Manuals - Paper Testing

Administration Manuals – Online Testing

Supplements

Video – Paper Testing

Video – Online Testing 

Tip: Test materials for The ACT are date-specific. Ensure you are using the correct materials for your test date and format to avoid score cancellation.

Tip: If you are testing an examinee authorized for English learner supports, have the ACT-Authorized Bilingual Word-to-Word Dictionaries list handy to verify at check in that the examinee’s dictionary can be used for testing.

Return Test Materials

Dates – Paper Testing

calendarTesting Date 1— standard time testing materials receipt deadline: March 5, 2024

calendarTesting Date 1— accommodations testing materials deadline: March 15, 2024

calendarTesting Date 2— standard time testing materials receipt deadline: March 19, 2024

calendarTesting Date 2—accommodations testing materials deadline: March 29,2024

calendarTesting Date 3—standard time testing materials receipt deadline: April 16, 2024

calendarTesting Date 3—accommodations testing materials deadline: April 26, 2023

Dates – Online Testing

calendarTesting Date 1—standard time and accommodations testing materials receipt deadline: March 15, 2024

calendarTesting Date 2— standard time and accommodations testing materials receipt deadline: March 29, 2024

calendarTesting Date 3— standard time and accommodations testing materials receipt deadline: April 26, 2024

Resources:

Training:

Tip: Do not return unused answer documents from test date one. Keep unused answer documents for makeup testing.

Tip: Return completed answer documents following testing so they arrive at ACT by the receipt deadline listed on the Schedule of Events and can be scored.

Tip: Return all ACT-authorized accommodations materials at the end of each testing window, rather than returning materials for individual examinees as they complete testing.

Tip: If you receive an additional order, write your high school's name and code on the return shipping labels.